Early on the morning of May 7, the Texas House passed a bill that makes it a felony for anyone to give anyone else an application for an absentee ballot, if the recipient had not first requested it. See this story. The bill is not yet through the legislature because the Senate version differs.
On May 5, Cyber Ninjas settled a lawsuit with the Arizona Democratic Party over procedures for the recount of Maricopa County ballots from November 2020. Cyber Ninjas is the private firm hired by the Republican majority of the State Senate to do a recount. See this story. The settlement means that many concerns about the reliability of the recount are assuaged.
The Gotham Gazette has published my op-ed, criticizing the 2020 New York state changes to ballot access laws. See it here.
The Monticello Press has this op-ed by Chris Bridges about the recent decision, requiring an easier method for minor party and independent candidates to get on the Georgia ballot for U.S. House.
On May 6, the Florida League of Women Voters filed a federal lawsuit against some provisions of SB 90, which was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis the same day. League of Women Voters of Florida v Lee, n.d., 4:21cv-186. The new law: (1) severely reduces access to vote-by-mail drop boxes; (2) effectively bans organizations and volunteers from helping voters return their vote-by-mail ballots; (3) requires voters to more frequently request mail ballots; (4) bans giving food or drink to anyone waiting in line. Here is the Complaint.
The case is assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Mark Walker, an Obama appointee who has ruled against the state in many previous election law cases. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news.
